2009 SouthCoast boys volleyball preview

The history between the boys volleyball teams from New Bedford and Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech is one of those rare cross-city rivalries that could be the stuff of a Hollywood sports movie.

TIM WEISBERG

The history between the boys volleyball teams from New Bedford and Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech is one of those rare cross-city rivalries that could be the stuff of a Hollywood sports movie.

And it's also still fresh in the mind of Voc-Tech's new coach, 23-year-old Matthew Rodrigues.

"I played in that rivalry, so I know what it's all about," Rodrigues said.

However, Rodrigues played for the other side. A 2004 graduate of New Bedford High, he saw the Bears as the enemy ... to the point that his career ended with a five-set loss to Voc-Tech in the sectional tournament that year.

The Voc-Tech program had great success under Mike Holden, who started the boys' team in 1995 and won eight straight conference titles during his tenure. When he stepped down in 2004, he was replaced by assistant John Hubright, who added another divisional title to Voc-Tech's resume before losing to Lawrence in the state semifinals.

Andy Mather took over in 2006, when his team went 20-1 and lost in the quarterfinals to Newton North. The Bears were out of the tournament in 2007, but new coach Steve Yates brought them back to the dance last season after a 9-9 regular season. They lost to North Quincy in the first round.

Both Yates and Rodrigues admit that the constant changes on the bench might have taken a toll on the Bears.

"I'm hoping the team can get some type of structure with Matt," said Yates, who couldn't provide that structure himself when the opportunity arose to pursue a masters in athletic administration at Concordia University in California. (He also coaches TCA Volleyball Club, one of the nation's top club teams.)

But Voc-Tech didn't have to look far for its next coach; Rodrigues is a life-long friend of Yates, a former teammate at New Bedford and was the Bears' junior varsity coach last season. He knows the team and what it can accomplish.

"We're young. We lost a lot of talent from last year," Rodrigues said. "I'll be starting a freshman (A.J. Hogan) and a sophomore (Patrick Grine) at middle hitter."

The Bears will also have leadership from returning players, including junior setter Alex Goncalves, senior co-captain and outside hitter Korey Martin, and senior opposite hitter That Luu. Senior co-captain Justin Gomes will make the switch from libero to outside hitter as well.

"We're small and young, so I can't afford to keep him in the back row," Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues also hopes that the stability of having one coach stick with a young, developing team can pay dividends not just this season, but in future years as well.

"The team is young, but so am I," Rodrigues said. "I think we can all grow together."

Across town, the Whalers hope adding some basketball players to their talented lineup will counter some of the size they've encountered in the state tournament, where teams like Newton North, Minnechaug and St. John's Prep usually have the height advantage.

"I have something I haven't had in 23 years of coaching at New Bedford, and that's four kids on the varsity team that have never played volleyball before," coach Steve DeRossi said, as he's taken on players like 6-3 Ethan Barnes and 6-1 Ronnie DeBarros.

The hope is that their height can help the five returning seniors from last year's varsity team, led by star Nathan Perry, whom DeRossi calls "one of the top two or three players in the state."

"He's head and shoulders above everyone else, and we're going to rely on him while the new varsity players are learning," DeRossi said.

Also returning from last year's 15-3 team is senior setter Kyle Albano, who set for a period last year before getting injured. Senior hitter Nelson Oliveira is also back, and senior Ricky Oliveira and junior Andrew McDowell will be fighting it out for the libero position. Utility player Derek Quattros is also expected to be a key member of the team.

There are also a number of call-ups from last season's undefeated junior varsity team, including junior outside hitter Cedric Houtman and converted swimmer Charles London, whom DeRossi said has "matured as a volleyball player" and should make an impact as a hitter and, especially, as a blocker.

"We're going to have some athleticism in front of the net. The new kids are already putting the pressure on the kids that know the game," DeRossi said. "We should have the depth, size and athleticism that we need to get by some of these teams. And I'm 100 percent positive that teams that see us at the beginning of the season will see a much different team at the end of the season."

Wareham is coming off a two-win season in 2008, but second-year coach Steve Rumbolt thinks this year's Vikings have the talent to make the state tournament for the first time since 2004, back when he was still in uniform.

"We only graduated one senior from last year. We have a lot of good leadership, but experience is still both an up and a down for us," Rumbolt said. "We have a lot of returning three- and four-year players, but we also have two first-year volleyball players starting for the varsity team."

The Vikings will rely on senior opposite hitter Marcus Casey and senior outside hitter Chris Cronin, as well as junior middle hitter Dylon Pyne, to lead the offense. But they'll be getting the ball from either Dylan Marceau or Tony Richard, two young players who are both setting for the first time. Senior Mike Hyland will anchor the defense in the libero role.

"I do have high hopes for us making the tournament. We have a lot of kids who know how to play volleyball, and this is the time when it should all come together," Rumbolt said.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.